Fruit box and foldable blank for making same



' A ril 19, 1966 M. A. SMI TH 3, 4

FRUIT BOX AND FOLDABLE BLANK FOR MAKING SAME Filed July 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 w \\\i Pg; 4

INVENTOR. five/55 Jim? WZZMZ K M. A. SMITH April 19, 1966 FRUIT BOX AND FOLDABLE BLANK FOR MAKING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1964 T ZZ April 19, 1966 M. A. SMITH FRUIT BOX AND FOLDABLE BLANK FOR MAKING SAME Filed July 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,246,830 FRUIT BOX AND FOLDABLE BLANK FOR MAKING SAME Maurice A. Smith, Box 148, Niantic, Conn. Filed July 29, 1964. Ser. No. 386,035 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-32) This invention relates to open top boxes for fruit or the like, and deals more particularly with boxes which can be made from a unitary blank which is so cut as to be readily foldable to form. a box.

An object of the present invention is to provide a box which is collapsible for storage and shipping as a blank and which box is also easily assembled for use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box which is inexpensive to manufacture and may be assembled without the use of metal fastening elements such as staples or the like.

A more specific object is to provide a box for strawberrieswhich box can be packed in a packing case with lther' similar boxes and still provide a substantial degree of ventilation therebetween.

Another more specific object of the present invention islto provide a raspberry box with a false bottom.

1 "It is also an object of the present invention to provide a'box which can be constructed of sheet plastic or paper or the like, which box is reinforced at the rim or top to prevent collapsing of the box during use.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and such embodiments will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a 'part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose. p

.Of'the drawingsz.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank used to form the box shown in FIG. 3 with fold lines indicated by broken lines.

F FIG. '2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 blank in partially assembled position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box resulting from folding'the blank shown in FIG. 1.

4 is a plan view of the blank used to form the box shown in FIG. 7 with fold lines indicated by broken lines.

' FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIG. 4 in partially assembled position.

' FIG. 6 is aperspective view of the FIG. 4 blank at a later stage in construction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box resulting from folding the FIG. 4 blank.

The blank shown in FIG. 1 may be cut from cardboard or heavy paper or from sheet plastic or the like and may be scored on the broken lines indicated to facilitate folding. As shown the blank comprises a square bottom panel 10 having four sides defined by the four fold lines a, b, c, and d. Two side panels 12 and 14 are'integrally connected along their inner or lower edges to opposite sides a and c, of the bottom panel 10.

Each of the side panels 12 and 14 is foldable upwardly and is generally rectangular with parallel lateral side edges and an upperedge which is defined by fold lines a and 3 respectively. Rim flanges 16 and 18 are integrally connected to-the upper edges of said side panels 12 and 14 along fold lines e and 1'' respectively. The rim flanges 16 and 18 extend laterally outwardly beyond the lateral side edges of said side panels to define spacer tabs 20, 20. The rim flanges 16 and 18 are foldable outwardly and downwardly along the lines e and f respec- 3,246,830 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 tively and the spacer tabs 20, 20 serve a purpose to be discussed more fully below.

End panels 22 and 24 are integrally connected to the other opposite sides b and d respectively, of the bottom panel 10 as shown. The end panels 22 and 24 are also foldable upwardly and are generally rectangular with parallel lateral side edges as shown.

The end panels, 22 and 24, each have two elongated cap portions 26, 26 and 28, 28 respectively, extending laterally outwardly from the lateral side edges thereof. Each of these cap portions 26, 26 and 28, 28 are foldable with respect to their respective end panels about lines g, g spaced laterally from the side edges of each end panel for a purpose to be described.

Rim flanges 30 and 32 are foldable outwardly and downwardly along lines h, h, as shown and extend along the upper edges of the end panels 22 and 24 respectively, and along the associated adjacent cap portions 26, 26 and 28, 28 respectively.

Each cap portions 26, 26 and 28, 28 is also generally rectangular having outer end portions 34 and 36 which define slits 38 and 40 respectively. The slits 38 and 40 are inclined as shown to engage the rim flanges 16 and 18 in a manner to be described hereinbelow. Still with reference to the cap portions 26, 26 and 28, 28 theinner or lower edge of each will be seen to define a depending tab 42, 42 and 44, 44 respectively. The tabs 42, 42 and 44, 44 are adapted to be received in slits 46, 46 and 48, 48 provided therefor in the side panels 12 and 14 respectively, when the box is assembled. When so assembled the slits are arranged horizontally as best shown in FIG. 2. The tabs 42 and 44-will be seen from FIG. 1 to be inclined with respect to said horizontal slits 46 and 48.

The side panels 12 and 14, as well as the end panels 22 and 24, are preferably provided with ventilating openings 50, 50 which may be arranged in any convenient pattern such as the one shown. To strengthen the side and end panels, raised rib portions 52, 52 preferably extend generally vertically upwardly in the resulting box from some of said openings 50, 50 to other openings 50, 50 located adjacent the upper edges of said side andend panels.

As shown in FIG. 2 the blank of FIG. 1 is well adapted to be folded into the box shown in FIG. 3. In assembly the box the side panels 12 and 14 are folded upwardly as shown and the rim flanges thereon, 16 and 18 respectively, are folded outwardly and downwardly. The end panels, 22 and 24, are also folded upwardly with their rim flanges, 30 and 32 respectively, being folded out-wardly and downwardly. The cap portions 28, 28 on end panel 24 are folded at right angles to said end panel and into contiguous relationship with the adjacent side panel upper edges. The cap portions 26, 26 on end panel 22 are similarly folded and each tab 42 is inserted in its associated slit 48 as shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent that the rim flanges 30 and 32 on the end panels 22 and 24 respectively are somewhat wider than the rim flanges 16 and 18 on the side panels -12 and 14 respectively. Thus,- the. Wider rim flanges overhang the narrower rim. flanges and the inclined slits 38 and 40 in the former are adapted to receive the edges of the narrower rim flanges 16 and 18 respectively as shown in 'FIG. 3.

The above described spacer tabs 20, 20 on the narrower rim flanges, 16 and 18, engage the laterally spaced fold lines g, g, on the folded cap portions to define four V- shaped openings at the four corners of the box as shown in storing strawberries or the like in order to assure proper ventilation of the fruit in the box.

Turning now to the alternative construction shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, the box there shown will be seen to have an upper portion which is similar to that shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. The FIG. 7 box differs from the FIG. 3 box chiefly in the area of the bot-tom portion wherein a false bottom is provided in a manner to be described.

Referring now to the blank shown in FIG. 4 in greater detail, a bottom panel 60 is defined by four fold lines 1', k, l and m. Four leg portions 62, 62 are integrally connected to the four sides of the bottom panel 60 along these fold lines as shown. These leg portions 62, 62 are foldable downwardly with respect to the bottom panel 60 so that the paral'lelly arranged fold lines, n, 0, p and q respectively, define the lower edges of said leg portions 62, 62. Side panels 64 and 66 are integrally connected to opposite leg portions 62, 62 along the fold lines n and p respectively. Rim flanges 68 and 70 are integral-1y connected to the upper or outer edges of the side panels 64 and 66 respectively and are foldable outwardly and downwardly to reinforce the rim of the resulting box in the same manner as outlined hereinabove with reference to the FIG. 1 blank. It should be noted that no spacer tab-s are provided on the rim flanges 68 and 70. In fact, the opposite ends thereof are preferably undercut as shown at 69 and 71 to assure that no openings are formed at the four corners of the resulting box.

Two end panels 72 and 74 are integrally connected to the other two opposite leg portions 62, 62 along the fold lines and q respectively. The end panels 72 and 74 are similar to those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, each of these end panels having cap portions 77, 77 and 79, 79 integrally connected respectively to upper portions of the opposite side edges thereof and foldable with respect thereto on the lines v, v. It should be noted also that the fold lines v, v are not spaced from these lateral edges as was the case in the previous embodiment.

Rim flanges 76 and 78 are integrally connected to the upper edges of the end panels 72 and 74 along the fold lines t and u respectively. As so constructed the rim flanges 76 and 78 are foldable outwardly and downwardly so that an inclined slit 80 in the outer end portion of each cap portion 78 will engage the narrower rim flanges 68 and 70 on the side panels in the same manner as outlined hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Inclined tabs 82, 82 are provided on the inner or lower edge of each cap portion 77 and 79 and serve the same purpose as the tabs 44, 44 described herein-above, namely to secure the rim of the resulting box.

Each end panel 72 and 74 has tongue portions 84, 84 integrally connected respectively to lower portions of the opposite side edges thereof. The tongue portions 84, 84 are foldable along the lines w, w as to lie in contiguous relationship with the lower edges of the adjacent side panels in a manner to be described. Each tongue portion 84, 84 has an upstanding tab 86, 86 which can be entered in slits 88, 88 provided therefor in the side panels 64 and 66. With further reference to the tongue portions 84, 84 each of these is tapered as shown from a maximum dimension determined by the width or height of said leg portion 62', 62 to a minimum dimension of approximately one half this dimension at its outer end portion. As so constructed, the tongue portions 84, 84 can be entered in vertically disposed slits 90, 90 provided therefor in the side panels 64 and 66.

In assemblying the FIG. 4 blank to form the box shown in FIG. 7, the leg portions 62, 62 are folded downwardly along the lines 1', k, l and m. The side panels 64 and 66 :are folded upwardly along the fold lines n and p while the end panels 72 and 74 are folded upwardly along the lines o and q respectively. The rim flanges 68 and '70 are folded outwardly and downwardly as shown in FIG. 5. The somewhat wider rim flanges 76 and 78 are similarly folded and the cap pOl'tiOIlS '5, 76 are folded into overlying relationship with the narrow rim flanges 68 and 70 to provide an open top box with a reinforced rim or upper edge portion. As in the previous embodiment, these rim flanges are held together by tabs 82, 82 entered in the slots provided therefor in the side panels 64 and 66 and by the inclined slits 80, which receive the narrow rim flanges 68 and 70.

It is a feature of this embodiment of the present invention that a false bottom is provided in the box in order to separate the contents of individual boxes when they are stacked one on top of another. The aforementioned leg portions 62, 62 provide this separation and the tongue portions 84, 84 hold the, side and end panels in position adjacent the bottom panel 60. As show in FIG. 6, each tongue portion is entered in a slot provided therefor in each of the side panels and its associated, tab 86 is entered in a horizontal slit provide therefor and indicated generally at 88. The two vertical slits 90, 90 in each side panel are closely spaced in relation to one another and the tongue portions 84, 84 inserted therein will be seen to overlap each other as shown in FIG. 7 to provide a rigid base for the resulting box.

The side panels 64 and 66, as well as the end panels 72 and 74, are preferably provided with ventilating openings 92, 92 which may be arranged in any convenient pattern such as the one shown. In order to strengthen the side and end panels, raised rib portions 94, 94 preferably extend generally vertically upwardly in the resulting box from some of said openings 92, 92 to other openings 92, 92 located adjacent the upper edges of said side and end panels.

The invention claimed is:

1. An open top fruit box comprising a flat rectangular bottom panel, two upstanding side panels integrally connected along their lower edges to opposite sides of said bottom panel, outwardly and downwardly fold-ed rim flanges extending along upper edges of said side panels, two upstanding end panels integrally connected along their lower edges to the other two sides of said bottom panel, an elongated cap portion integrally connected at at upper portion of each side edge of each end panel and folded into contiguous relationship with an adjacent side panel upper edge, outwardly and downwardly folded rim flanges extending along said cap portions, somewhat narrower folded rim flanges extending along the upper edges of said end panels and defining inclined slits in the end portions thereof for receiving the rim flanges on said side panel, at least one tab depending in inclined relationship from each of said cap portions, each side panel having a generally horizontal slit adjacent the upper edge thereof to receive each tab so as to releasably retain said cap portions in said folded positions, and each of said elongated cap portions being folded with respect to said end panels about a line spaced laterally from the adjacent side edges of said panels.

2. A fruit box as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by spacer tabs extending laterally from each of said side, panel rim flanges respectively and each of said tabs engaging said laterally spaced fold lines on said cap portions to define four V-shaped openings at the four corners of said box.

3. A fruit box as set forth in claim 2 and further characterized by said side and end panels having openings therein, and said side panels having integrally formed rib portions extending generally vertically from some of said openings to other openings respectively located adjacent the upper edges of said side and end panels.

4. An open top fruit box comprising a flat rectangular bottom panel, four downwardly folded leg portions'integrally connnected respectively to the four sides of said bottom panel, two upstanding side panels integrally connected along their lower edges to opposite leg portions, outwardly and downwardly folded rim flanges extending along upper edges of said side panels, two upstanding end panels integrally connected along their lower edges aaaasso to the other two leg portions, and elongated cap portion integrally connected at an upper portion of each side edge of each end panel and folded into contiguous relationship with an adjacent side panel upper edge, outwardly and downwardly folded rim flanges extending along said cap portions and along adjacent upper edges of said end panels, at least one tab depending from each of said cap portions, each side panel having a generally horizontal slit adjacent the upper edge thereof to receive each tab so as to releasably retain said cap portions in said folded positions, an elongated tongue portion integrally connected at a lower portion of each side edge of each end panel and folded into contiguous relationship with an adjacent side panel lower edge, each side paned defining a generally vertical slit to receive said tongues, at least one upstanding tab on each of said tongue portions, and each side panel having a second generally horizontal slit adjacent the lower edge thereof to receive each upstanding tab so as to releasably retain said tongue portions in said folded positions.

5. A fruit box as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tongue portions are long enough to overlap one another, said generally vertical tongue receiving slits being located close to one another in those portions of said side panels which are in contiguous relation to said leg portions.

6. A fruit box as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said tongue portions is tapered along its length from a maximum dimension which is approximately the same as the height of said leg portions to a minimum dimension of approximately one half said height.

7. A fruit box as set forth in claim 5 wherein said depending tabs on said cap portion are inclined with respect to said generally horizontal slits, and wherein each of said rim flanges on said cap portions are Wider than said rim flanges on said panels, and each of said Wider rim flanges defining an inclined slit in the end portion thereof for receiving narrower rim flanges on said side panels respectively.

8. A unitary precut blank for folding to form a fruit box or the like, said blank comprising a rectangular bottom panel, two side panels integrally connected to opposite sides of said bottom panel and foldable upwardly along their lower edges, rim flanges extending along an upper edge of each of said side panels and foldable outwardly and downwardly to reinforce the rim of the resulting box, two end panels integrally connected to the other two sides of said bottom panel and foldable upwardly along their lower edges, each of said end panels having two elongated cap portions integrally connected respectively to upper portions of the opposite side edges thereof and foldable with respect thereto, a rim flange extending along an upper edge of each of said end panels and along the cap portion associated therewith, said rim flange being foldable outwardly and downwardly to reinforce the rim of the resulting box, at least one tab depending from each of said cap portions, each side panel having at least two generally horizontal slits adjacent the upper edge thereof to receive the tabs on corresponding cap portions and releasably retain the same in their foldable positions, spacer tabs extending laterally from each of said side paneled rim flanges respectively, and each cap portion being foldable with respect to its associated end panel about a line spaced laterally from the adjacent side edges of said end panel whereby said tabs are adapted to engage said fold lines to provide V-shaped openings at the four corners of the resulting box.

9. A unitary precut blank for folding to form a fruit box or the like, said blank comprising a rectangular bottom panel, four downwardly foldable leg portions integrally connected respectively to the four sides of said bottom panel, two side panels integrally connected along their lower edges to opposite leg portions, rim flanges extending along an upper edge of each of said side panels and foldable outwardly and downwardly to reinforce the rim of the resulting box, two end panels integrally connected to the other two leg portions and foldable upwardly along their lower edges, each of said end panels having two elongated cap portions integrally connected respectively to upper portions of the opposite side edges thereof and foldable with respect thereto, a rim flange extending along an upper edge of each of said end panels and along the cap portion associated therewith, at least one tab depending from each of said cap portions, each side panel having at least two generally horizontal slits adjacent the upper edge thereof to receive the tabs on corresponding cap portions and to releaseably retain the same in their foldable positions, each of said end panels having two elongated tongue portions integrally connected respectively to lower portions of the opposite side edges of each end panel and foldable into contiguous relationship with lower edges of the adjacent side panels, each side panel defining two closely spaced slits adjacent the lower edge thereof receive said tongue portions, each tongue portion having at least one upstanding tab, and each side panel having a second generally horizontal slit adjacent the lower edge thereof to receive said upstanding tab so as to releasably retain said tongue portion in said foldable positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,428 6/ 1937 Kells 22932 912,263 2/ 1909 Potter 22931 1,003,510 9/1911 Reber 229311 1,083,048 12/1913 Bachmann 229-311 1,974,095 9/ 1934 Barnes 229-32 1,988,698 1/1934 Newhouse 229--166 2,065,804 12/ 1936 Guyer 229-30 2,279,670 4/1942 Ford et al 229-16 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,603 5/ 1928 Great Britain. 447,136 5/ 1936 Great Britain.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T, GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. AN OPEN TOP FRUIT BOX COMPRISING A FLAT RECTANGULAR BOTTOM PANEL, TWO UPSTANDING SIDE PANELS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ALONG THEIR LOWER EDGES TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FOLDED RIM FLANGES EXTENDING ALONG UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANELS, TWO UPSTANDING END PANELS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ALONG THEIR LOWER EDGES TO THE OTHER TWO SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, AN ELONGATED CAP PORTION INTEGRALLY CONNECTED AT AT UPPER PORTION OF EACH SIDE EDGE OF EACH END PANEL AND FOLDED INTO CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ADJACENT SIDE PANEL UPPER EDGE OUTERWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FOLDED RIM FLANGES EXTENDING ALONG SAID CAP PORTIONS, SOMEWHAT NARROWER FOLDED RIM FLANGES EXTENDING ALONG THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID END PANELS AND DEFINING INCLINED SLITS IN THE END PORTIONS THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE RIM FLANGES ON SAID SIDE PANEL, AT LEAST ONE TAB DEPENDING IN INCLINED RELATIONSHIP FROM EACH OF SAID CAP PORTIONS, EACH SIDE PANEL HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SLIT ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF TO RECEIVE EACH TAB SO AS TO RELEASABLY RETAIN SAID CAP PORTIONS IN SAID FOLDED POSITIONS, AND EACH OF SAID ELONGATED CAP PORTIONS BEING FOLDED WITH RESPECT TO SAID END PANELS ABOUT A LINE SPACED LATERALLY FROM THE ADJACENT SIDE EDGES OF SAID PANELS. 